The city of Tel Aviv has been the target of missile attacks in the past week, but U.S. tour operators say tour groups are still traveling. / Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert, AP

by Kitty Yancey, USA TODAY

by Kitty Yancey, USA TODAY

Tours to Israel are departing as usual, despite some missiles that have landed in or near tourist areas. But tour operators are fielding calls from concerned relatives and travelers, and some say bookings have slowed.

Bell Wholesale Travel of Northbrook, Ill., had five groups in Israel Monday, founder Madeleine Cohen says. "We've been in business for 30 years and we would never, ever jeopardize our customers," she says. "But I have had a lot of calls from family members ... 'Is my mom OK?' "

Pilgrim Tours president David Nyce also has clients in Israel and says "the groups that came back (last) weekend didn't even know what was going on" regarding violence in the Gaza Strip and missiles aimed at northern areas. He says the region's instability "does affect our business, and I think it affects everyone's business, if they're honest with you. ... Our advance bookings are on hold ... things are slowing down." He said he thinks people are watching and waiting to see what happens in Israel, Iran and Syria before making new plans to travel to the region.

Late Monday, the Israel Ministry of Tourism issued a "Behind the Headlines" update via its New York PR agency. It said rockets "have been fired from the Palestinians' Gaza Strip into southern Israel. A majority of the rockets have been brought down by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system, but some have landed in towns and cities in a quite large area .... Most of the areas the rockets have reached are off the usual tourist routes, but a few have been aimed toward Tel Aviv. Most of the rockets launched toward Tel Aviv were deflected by the Iron Dome. No tourists have been involved in any incidents."

The message said that about 20 flights are operating nonstop daily to Israel from Canada and the USA and that "conditions in most of Israel are normal - with children going to school, people shopping, going to restaurants, going to the beach, and sightseeing. There are currently more than 100,000 tourists vacationing in Israel and there are no signs whatsoever that visitors are cutting their trips short." The missive concluded: "If we felt it was inappropriate for you to come now, we would ask you not to."

The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv took a more grim stance Monday, issuing an alert that read, in part: "U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security in light of the escalating level of violence in Gaza and Israel. U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings and news reports, and follow the civil defense guidance provided by the Home Front Command. The Government of Israel's Home Front Command website provides information on how to choose a secure space or room in a home or apartment."

Since August, the U.S. State Department has had a travel warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in effect. It urges caution and avoidance of the Gaza Strip, but does not suggest Americans avoid all travel to Israel.

Tour operator Madeleine Cohen says her Israel clients mainly are evangelical Christians for whom the tours "are not vacations ... it's a trip of faith. In 30 years, I have never canceled a trip to Israel. We have groups leaving (for Israel) all the time."

Pilgrim Tours' David Nyce says airlines are not giving refunds or waiving change fees for Israel, nor are hotels. "We don't want to say everything is normal," he says. "I can understand people being apprehensive." To go or not to go to Israel "is strictly up to the individual," he adds.

Below his Morgantown, Pa., firm's website descriptions of Israel tours is a caveat: "Please do not make a reservation with us based on the hopes of a calm future."